Izmir AS  Base Essentials

Sponsorship is also available for youth. Installation youth sponsorship programs help military-connected youth make a successful transition to a new community. Primarily directed to preteen and teenaged youth, installation youth programs/centers provide information and materials on programs and services available at their new location. Where available, youth can exchange emails, talk on the phone or chat online with other youth. The youth program staff at your new installation can offer more information on installation youth sponsorship programs.

You can also contact your installation School Liaison Program office for information about school-based youth sponsorship programs such as Anchored4Life and Student2Student. These peer-to-peer programs help your student adjust to and navigate their new school.

If your child would like to become a youth sponsor, contact your installation School Liaison Program or youth program/center.

Families with children may also want to visit Military Kids Connect, an online community for military children and youth. The site offers games, videos and links to teen-led installation tours.

To help prepare sponsors for success, the Sponsorship Program provides training and access to important information and resources that can help newcomers master their move. The Sponsorship Program helps sponsors fulfill their responsibilities, which may include:

• Contacting the service member and family with an introductory email
• Staying in contact with the service member throughout the moving process
• Sending information about the new community and duty assignment, responding to questions and providing information about resources
• Confirming transportation and lodging arrangements
• Helping with post office arrangements
• Meeting service members and family members upon arrival
• Going with service members to unit check-in point
• Introducing service members to the Military and Family Support Center and loan closet, if it’s available
• Familiarizing service members and families with the installation and key locations, like the commissary

Note: Responsibilities may vary based on service-specific policies and guidance. Make sure to check with your service branch for sponsor training requirements.

Overall, the Sponsorship Program aims to:

• Provide newcomers with a sense of belonging
• Ease the transition for inbound service members or civilians and their family members
• Increase productivity of service members and loved ones
• Help newcomers make informed decisions
• Cultivate new friendships
• Improve morale

For more information on the Sponsorship Program, contact your installation Military and Family Support Center.

Advise your sponsor of the date, time, and number of your arrival flight by emailing your Travel Itinerary to their personal and work email address. Ensure you also give them your personal email/personal cell phone number so you and your sponsor can get in contact with each other. It's very important to have your sponsor meet you at the airport. Your sponsor can be a huge asset by sending you information on Izmir, your duty section and the local community. You will receive a "Izmir Welcome Guide" via email with information on Izmir facilities, programs, the city, and the local community. If you want to exchange dollars for Turkish Lira, after clearing customs at the airport, you can exchange money at the airport or withdraw Lira from local ATM at the airport. Also ensure you have advised your creditors that you are moving to Turkey so they will not have your credit cards blocked. A local taxi ride from the airport to the hotel will cost you approximately 100 Turkish Lira or approximately $16. This is if your sponsor for some reason does not meet you at the airport. It is appropriate to tip the taxi driver for helping you with your luggage approximately 10 or 20 Turkish Lira.

Send your orders to your sponsor when you are 30 days out so that he or she can set up a post office box for you at your new assignment. Before PCSing you can fill a PS Form 3575 at your current base to enable them to forward your mail to your new assignment for two months after you leave the base. After two months only First Class mail will be forwarded and the rest will be sent back to the sender.